Economy

The Ministry of Social Affairs warns that employers using insurers or premium pension institutions are not converting their pension schemes to the new system quickly enough. Only 32 percent of schemes had been transitioned at the start of the year, leaving tens of thousands still to be completed before the 2028 deadline.

After a strong start to the year, rising mortgage rates are slowing the housing market. ABN AMRO now expects modest price increases this year and next, while income growth and a constrained supply keep prices from falling. Regional price gaps are narrowing and structural bottlenecks such as an overloaded power grid and reduced investor interest complicate the outlook.

The Dutch economy expanded slightly faster than first reported at the start of 2026. Revised figures show stronger consumer spending and a smaller drop in exports. Updates to earlier data also changed growth estimates for previous years.

Financial fraud in the Netherlands experienced a steep 30 per cent increase last year, resulting in total losses of 198 million euros. Criminals are increasingly exploiting instant payment systems and online card data to conduct quick, irreversible thefts. The surge has prompted warnings from the Dutch Central Bank regarding sophisticated social engineering and phishing tactics.

The Netherlands drew more of its oil and gas from the United States in 2025, with nearly a quarter of its supplies coming from there. The shift follows a steep drop in Russian imports after the invasion of Ukraine. CBS figures show that both the Netherlands and the EU have turned to countries such as Norway and the US to secure their energy needs.

President Donald Trump has threatened to immediately impose a 100% import tariff on all goods from any European nation that implements a digital services tax targeting American tech giants. In response, the European Commission defended its member states' sovereign right to regulate their own economic activities and vowed to act quickly and forcefully against any potential U.S. levies.

The Amsterdam stock exchange opened lower on Friday as the benchmark AEX index fell 0.5% to 1,062.05 points, tracking a sharp tech-led sell-off in Asia fueled by surging memory chip prices. Global tech sentiment soured following news that heavy AI infrastructure investments are squeezing chip supply, forcing giants like Apple and Microsoft to hike product prices, while reports emerged that OpenAI may delay its stock market flotation until next year. On the local bourse, chip equipment maker Besi led the decliners with a 3.2% drop, contrasting with telecom firm KPN, which gained 1.3% on an analyst upgrade, while broader European markets dipped alongside falling oil prices as geopolitical anxieties in the Strait of Hormuz began to ease.

Drugstore employees at Etos, Kruidvat, and Holland & Barrett will strike again on Saturday, FNV says. The union is protesting proposed cuts to Sunday pay and stalled collective labor agreement talks.